Chef's Dinner Table Presents... Farmhouse Dinners!

159 Middlefield Road, Durham, CT 06422

Chef's Dinner Table invites you to celebrate our partnership with Gastler Farm, a historic family farm in Durham, Connecticut. Chef Julie Carrión and farm manager Leah Gastler have collaborated on a series of Farmhouse Dinners to celebrate the best produce picks of the season! Canapés  and three courses will be professionally paired with an exquisite wine program.  Menus are designed to highlight the peak crops of the season, including custom floral arrangements created for each evening. 

For this installment, we look forward to Independence Day, when the menu will celebrate the mid-summer harvest!  As you enter the grounds, you will be greeted by a reception, passed canapes, cocktails, and farm tours led by Leah Gastler.  Leah is a fourth generation Connecticut farmer (and accomplished musician) who maintains the idyllic property with meticulously crafted stone walls, gorgeous flowers, and verdant gardens. At the ring of the dinner bell, diners will gather at an intimate farm table to enjoy a memorable meal lovingly prepared and served by our team. With a nod to July 4th, we will be entertained by an evening light show we call our "fantastic fountain display", as we enjoy dessert on the patio.  Flower arrangements on the tables will be for sale to guests as they depart, with proceeds supporting the farm's continuity.

For those of you who missed our inaugural farmhouse dinner in June, the FOMO is very real.  There are only 4 events in the series, so you won't want to miss this one.  As with all of our events, you will be surrounded by like-minded individuals who also like to eat, drink and be merry without being too fussy about it.  Or, as we like to say: "There are no strangers here, only friends we have yet to meet".  

Note: all food, drink and gratuities are included with your ticket purchase, so you don't need to worry about settling a bill at the end of the night.

THE MENU

Canapés

Chard Fritter~ herb yogurt

Crab Parcel~ garlic scape filling, hot mustard

 Goat Cheese Crostini~ brown bread, beets, berries

Mini Hot Dogs~ pâte à choux buns, farm tomato relish

Welcome Cocktail: Fish House Punch

1st Course

Red, White, and Blue Salad ~ farm beets, burrata, blueberries

2nd Course

Smoky Pork Chop~ heirloom beans, wilted farm greens, pickled chutney, mustard barbecue

3rd course

Peach Melba ~ raspberry coulis, vanilla bean ice cream, lavender jumble cookies

*Please note: vegetarians will be well-cared for, just let us know in advance!

ABOUT THE TEAM

Chef Julie Carrión spent the early years of her culinary career in New York City training under culinary masters Anita Lo, Montreal-based chef Normand Laprise, and Daniel Boulud.  After nearly a decade with Yale University as Executive Chef, catering to the university’s President and elite guests, Julie is now the Culinary Director of Chef’s Dinner Table, a private dining venue and culinary salon in New York City.  A resident of central Connecticut, she became enchanted by Gastler Farm when she was introduced to Tim Gastler before his passing in 2023.  They dreamed up the farm dinners together, and now his daughter Leah keeps the dream alive!

Julie is joined in the kitchen by Paco Rodriguez, a yoga retreat chef based in Hudson, New York. He is the former Chef and Innkeeper at White Gate Farm in East Lyme, CT. Paco is a graduate of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and earned an MFA in Sculpture at Tyler School of Art, Philadelphia.  The service team is led by Jeannie Nocera, a hospitality veteran whose vision for each event is realized with the beautiful tablescapes, beverage program, and exceptional service that are essential to the experience.

ABOUT GASTLER FARM

Gastler Farm has been a working farm for several generations and contains a Smithsonian-registered garden.  From 1937-1990 Gastler Farm was locally famous for their pansy fields, which blanketed the front fields with color every Spring. Charles H. Gastler bred his own unique strains of pansy seed, known for their large faces and robust stems, and the farm became a springtime destination for CT residents, including Katharine Hepburn! Leah Gastler is the 4th generation to bring new life and business to Gastler Farm. As a classically trained violist, started in the event business hosting classical music concerts in the farmhouse through a non-profit that she founded: Kalmia Garden Chamber Music and Arts Foundation, which will continue its annual performances in the Fall. 

FAQs:

Do you accommodate dietary restrictions?

• Yes. Please email Info@ChefsDinnerTableNYC.com with your dietary needs with at least 3 days notice. With less notice, we will undertake our best effort (but cannot guarantee) to accommodate your dietary restrictions.

Is there a dress code?

• Nobody will be barred at the door for their garb. The tone of the evening will be somewhere between smart-casual and elegant. 

Are there any ID requirements or an age limits to enter the event?

• Guests must be at least 21 Years of age with valid ID.

What is the refund policy? Is my registration/ticket transferable?

• While tickets are not refundable, they are transferable to anyone of legal drinking age. If you are unable to use your ticket, we will undertake to re-sell your ticket on a best-efforts basis subject to a 20% service fee.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

• No. (just have some ID handy)

Where can I contact the organizer with additional questions?

• Please email Info@ChefsDinnerTableNYC.com